By Harvey Rice :
August 6, 2014

GALVESTON – A Galveston County grand jury has declined to indict a police officer who shot and wounded a Nederland man who allegedly drove the wrong way on Interstate 45 before his tire was shot out by the officer, but the grand jury has indicted the motorist in the incident.

The grand jury on Tuesday declined to indict the officer, Galveston police Capt. Jeffrey Heyse, according to police spokesman Sgt. Josh Shirard said. The Galveston County sheriff's office conducted the investigation but referred all questions to the Galveston County district attorney's office, which confirmed the police version of events.

Nelson Ray Anderle, 33, was indicted Wednesday on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. The indictments were based on statements taken by sheriff's investigators from drivers of two of several cars that Anderle is accused of nearly colliding with on the interstate, said James Haugh, assistant Galveston County district attorney.

Hyse was driving north on Interstate 45 at about 9:30 p.m. June 15 near the Texas City Wye, where Texas 146 and Texas 3 join the interstate, when he saw a pickup travelling north in the southbound lane. He shot out the vehicle's right rear tire, stopping the truck. Haugh said the driver charged across the median at Hyse, who identified himself as a police officer. Hyse fired once, striking Anderle in the stomach.